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Arnhem Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus arnhemensis)

The Arnhem Long-eared Bat is a small insect-eating microbat of northern Australia, recorded across the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. Roosts in bark, roofs and other sheltered structures can be affected by clearing and construction, and breeding roosts need particular care because this species is treated as a colonial breeder in Queensland. It is listed as least concern and is not listed as endangered, vulnerable or near threatened in Australia, but Queensland breeding-place controls still apply.

Conservation status

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Colonial breeder. Least concern in Queensland, but it breeds in colonies, so tampering with a breeding place needs a high risk species management program rather than the low risk program.

Breeding season

The Arnhem Long-eared Bat is a colonial breeder, but species-specific breeding dates are poorly documented. For northern Australian microbats, breeding generally occurs during the warmer months, from spring to late summer, with local timing influenced by rainfall, food and roost conditions.

Breeding mode: Colonial breeder. Maternity colonies or shared breeding roosts may contain a substantial part of the local population.

Litter size: Not recorded. Most microbats give birth to one pup a year.

Gestation: Not recorded.

Fledging and weaning: Not recorded. Dependent young are expected during the warmer-month breeding period.

Breeding places: The species is recorded roosting under bark flaps close to the ground and in house roofs. Potential microbat breeding roosts can also include tree hollows, fissures, loose bark, caves, mines, culverts, bridges and other buildings.

Colony size and site fidelity: Not recorded for this species. Do not assume a roost is unimportant because only a few bats are seen, or because individuals use separate daytime roosts.

Recognising an active breeding place: Look for pregnant or lactating females, pups, repeated bat activity at the same roost, and regular emergence at dusk. Use Anabat or similar detectors, emergence watches, and harp traps or mist nets where appropriate. Inspect hollow-bearing trees with an endoscope or pole camera.

Timing can vary between years and regions, particularly across the tropical north, so treat any occupied roost as potentially important until surveys confirm otherwise.

  • Breeding, births and maternity activity: Breeding activity is expected mainly from spring to late summer, with the strongest precaution needed from October to January.
  • Dependent pups: Dependent young may be present from spring through late summer, although the duration of dependence is not recorded for this species.
  • Maternity roost and colony use: Roosts used for raising young need protection during the breeding season, even if bats are not visible during a daytime inspection.
  • General roosting and foraging activity: The species is expected to remain active across the year in suitable northern habitats, with activity affected by weather, rainfall and local food supply.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing, tree felling, roof works and disturbance are most likely to harm pups or a maternity colony from September to February, especially October to January.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Arnhem Long-eared Bat is a small vespertilionid bat with the long-eared appearance typical of Nyctophilus. Field identification can be difficult, so use a combination of capture, photographs, roost inspection and habitat evidence rather than relying on echolocation alone.

This is a small bat. A recorded body mass is about 6.6 g. Its common name reflects its relatively long ears, but reliable measurements and detailed field characters should be checked against an appropriate regional key.

Handle any captured bat carefully and keep processing time short. Record sex, reproductive condition, body mass, forearm measurement and photographs where permits and animal welfare procedures allow.

Body mass: About 6.6 g

Group: Evening bats, family Vespertilionidae

Identification: Calls and similar species

The echolocation call is a low-intensity, low-duty-cycle, linear pulse. A characteristic frequency of about 47.1 kHz has been reported, with considerable variation between pulses.

An Anabat or similar recording cannot identify this species with confidence on its own. Similar calls include Myotis macropus, Nyctophilus bifax, Nyctophilus geoffroyi and Nyctophilus walkeri.

Reported characteristic frequency: About 47.1 kHz

Acoustic identification: Not reliable to species level from Anabat calls alone

  • Use acoustic data to locate bat activity and guide further investigation.
  • Treat species-level acoustic identifications as unconfirmed unless supported by other evidence.

Identification: Field signs

Look for small, dark, dry droppings below or near a suspected roost. Droppings may accumulate on window ledges, wall surfaces, roof spaces, tree bases or other sheltered surfaces.

There is no nest. Whitewash, staining and odour are not dependable signs for this species, particularly where only a few bats are present. Fresh droppings, repeated bat activity, audible chittering and bats emerging at dusk provide stronger evidence.

  • Inspect bark flaps, roof voids, tree hollows, fissures and structures that provide a protected entrance.
  • Photograph signs before disturbing a potential roost.
  • Do not rely on droppings alone to confirm an active maternity roost.

Distribution: Australian range

The Arnhem Long-eared Bat occurs in northern Australia. Records are concentrated in the Top End of the Northern Territory, while broader mapping places the species across the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia.

The species is mapped in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. In the Top End study area, records were north of 18 degrees south, with records concentrated in the north-west and around Kakadu National Park and north-central areas.

It has also been reported from northern Australia more broadly. State and regional records should be checked against current mapping before site works begin.

  • Northern Territory, especially the Top End.
  • Queensland, in northern areas shown by current mapping.
  • Western Australia, in northern areas shown by current mapping.

Distribution: Distribution and site assessment

The species was recorded at riparian, coastal and woodland sites in the Top End, although it was more frequent in some habitat groups than others. It was recorded at 50 percent of riparian sites, 63 percent of coastal sites and 10 percent of woodland sites in one habitat comparison.

A site without a previous record should not be treated as unsuitable. Small bats can be missed by short surveys, and records may reflect roost availability and survey conditions as well as habitat.

  • Check current Atlas of Living Australia and jurisdictional mapping.
  • Review nearby records before clearing, bridge works, roof removal or hollow-bearing tree removal.
  • Target connected vegetation, drainage lines and older trees with hollows or loose bark.

Distribution: Overseas range

The species is an Australian bat. No overseas range is recognised in the information used for this profile.

Habitat: Vegetation and landform

On works sites, look for sheltered vegetation and structures near productive insect habitat. The species has been associated with riparian, coastal and woodland settings in the Top End and with areas receiving higher annual rainfall.

The Arnhem Long-eared Bat has been recorded in thick forests and near riparian and coastal environments. It may use vegetation close to the ground, including areas where bark, foliage and tree hollows provide cover.

Prioritise drainage lines, creek margins, floodplain edges, coastal vegetation, mature woodland and forest remnants. Retain links between roosting features and nearby feeding habitat where practicable.

  • Riparian vegetation and creek margins.
  • Coastal vegetation and forest edges.
  • Woodland and thicker forest patches.
  • Mature trees with loose bark, fissures or hollows.

Habitat: Features to inspect before clearing

A habitat inspection should cover trees, fallen timber, buildings, bridges, culverts and other structures that could provide shelter. Inspect both the feature itself and the surrounding vegetation.

Give extra attention to trees with loose bark close to the ground, hollow limbs, trunk fissures and cavities. Mark these features on the clearing plan and have the fauna spotter catcher briefed before works start.

  • Hollow-bearing trees and trees with split or loose bark.
  • House roofs, sheds and roof voids.
  • Culverts, bridges and other enclosed structures.
  • Dense vegetation adjoining proposed access tracks or laydown areas.

Habitat: Habitat condition

The species model showed a positive association with annual rainfall. Habitat quality can be reduced by clearing, intensive fire, weeds, land degradation and loss of roosting features.

Avoid creating isolated retained trees where a connected patch can be retained. Protect roost features from vibration, dust, lighting and accidental damage during construction.

Foraging habitat: Foraging behaviour

The Arnhem Long-eared Bat is a highly cluttered-space forager. It flies slowly through dense vegetation and gleans insects from leaves and other surfaces, often close to cover.

The species feeds on insects and uses the linear calls typical of long-eared bats to detect nearby surfaces and prey. Gleaning allows it to take insects resting on vegetation rather than relying only on fast aerial pursuit.

Australian Museum information describes slow flight close to and beneath the leaves of thick forests. Keep this behaviour in mind when assessing narrow vegetation strips and understorey near a proposed clearing.

  • Dense forest and woodland understorey.
  • Vegetation along creek lines and forest edges.
  • Leaf surfaces and sheltered foliage close to the ground.
  • Connected routes between roosts and feeding areas.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Recorded prey included beetles, termites, cockroaches, bugs, moths, crickets and spiders. Seven insect orders were identified in a small dietary sample, with no single order clearly dominant.

Aquatic insect remains were also recorded. This may reflect feeding opportunities near temporary waterholes and other wet areas during the northern dry season.

Foraging type: Highly cluttered-space forager and gleaner

Main food: A broad range of insects, with spiders also recorded

  • Avoid unnecessary clearing beside watercourses and temporary waterholes.
  • Limit night lighting near retained vegetation and likely flight routes.
  • Manage erosion, weeds and sediment movement that can degrade insect-producing habitats.

Foraging habitat: Surveying activity

Use Anabat or similar detectors to identify bat activity and help locate flight paths. Because the call cannot confirm this species by itself, combine acoustic results with habitat inspection and, where appropriate, trapping or roost assessment.

Survey effort should cover likely roost edges, creek lines, dense vegetation and structures proposed for removal or modification.

  • Deploy detectors near suspected roosts and along retained vegetation corridors.
  • Use harp traps or mist nets only under the relevant approvals and animal welfare procedures.
  • Carry out emergence watches at buildings, bridges, culverts and hollow-bearing trees.

Breeding habitat: Breeding season and young

Species-specific breeding details for the Arnhem Long-eared Bat are limited. As a microbat, it should be managed as a colonial breeder during the breeding season, with particular care around any place where young are raised.

Most microbats give birth to one pup a year during the warmer months, usually spring to late summer. Confirm the local timing with the project ecologist and regional conditions before scheduling removal or exclusion works.

A maternity roost is a place where pregnant or lactating females gather and raise young. Young bats, pregnant females or lactating females provide the strongest confirmation of active breeding use.

Typical microbat litter: Usually one pup per year

Typical timing: Warmer months, usually spring to late summer

  • Treat spring to late summer as the main precautionary period for maternity roosts.
  • Do not assume a quiet roost is unused without suitable monitoring.
  • Avoid sealing, felling or major disturbance while dependent young may be present.

Breeding habitat: Confirming a maternity roost

Use a combination of daytime inspection and evening emergence observation. An endoscope or pole camera may help inspect a hollow or cavity without opening it further.

Pregnant or lactating females, pups and repeated emergence activity confirm breeding use. Acoustic activity alone indicates bats, but does not confirm a maternity roost.

  • Inspect accessible cavities with an endoscope or pole camera.
  • Watch the feature from before sunset until emergence activity has finished.
  • Record numbers, direction of flight, weather, timing and any return activity.
  • Stop work and seek ecological advice if pups or breeding females are found.

Breeding habitat: Managing breeding habitat

Where a hollow-bearing tree must be removed, use a two-stage or soft-felling approach under a fauna spotter catcher's direction. This reduces the chance of crushing bats and allows animals to leave before the final removal.

Any exclusion device should be installed outside the maternity season and only after the roost has been assessed. Never exclude bats when dependent young could be trapped inside.

  • Retain the tree or structure wherever practicable.
  • Use two-stage or soft felling for unavoidable tree removal.
  • Schedule exclusion outside the maternity season.
  • Consider bat boxes as supplementary habitat, not as an automatic replacement for a natural roost.

Sheltering habitat: Natural roost features

The Arnhem Long-eared Bat is known to roost under flaps of bark close to the ground and in house roofs. Other roost features should be treated as potential habitat because microbats can use a range of natural and built structures.

Inspect loose bark, tree fissures, hollow limbs and cavities, especially in mature trees and trees close to the ground. Fallen or partly fallen timber may also provide sheltered spaces and should be checked before removal.

A roost can be small and difficult to see from the ground. Avoid pulling bark away or inserting tools unless this is part of an approved inspection.

  • Flaps of loose bark.
  • Trunk and branch fissures.
  • Hollow limbs and tree cavities.
  • Sheltered spaces in fallen timber and dense vegetation.

Sheltering habitat: Built structures

House roofs are documented roosting habitat for this species. Other microbats may use roof voids, bridges, culverts, buildings, mines and caves, so these features should be assessed before demolition, refurbishment or structural work.

Inspect roof lines, joints, gaps, expansion spaces, culvert ends and bridge cavities. Check for droppings, staining, audible activity and bats leaving at dusk.

  • Roof spaces and wall cavities.
  • Bridges and culverts.
  • Buildings, sheds and other enclosed structures.
  • Caves, mines and fissures where present.

Sheltering habitat: Roost assessment on site

Combine daytime inspection, emergence watches and acoustic monitoring. Harp traps or mist nets can support species assessment where suitable and approved, but they do not replace a careful search for a roost or maternity use.

Protect suspected roosts from vibration, dust, heat, lighting and sudden changes in access. Keep the fauna spotter catcher informed before plant enters the exclusion zone.

  • Mark the feature and establish a practical no-entry area during assessment.
  • Use an endoscope or pole camera for safe inspection of cavities.
  • Document roost condition, access points, signs and nearby flight paths.
  • Reinspect if works are delayed or the structure changes.

Colonies and breeding places: What a colony or maternity roost looks like

Colonial breeding places need more care than ordinary day roosts because many bats may share one maternity site. In Queensland, tampering with the breeding place of a least concern colonial breeder requires a high risk species management program under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020.

A colony is a group of bats co-existing in close association for breeding. A maternity roost may be inside a hollow, behind loose bark, in a roof void, bridge, culvert, cave, mine or another enclosed space.

The Arnhem Long-eared Bat may also roost alone at other times. A solitary daytime observation does not rule out a larger breeding group using the same feature at another time.

Species-specific colony size: No reliable typical size has been established

Breeding-place meaning: Any roost where young are raised is a breeding place

  • Repeated bat activity at one tree or structure.
  • Several bats emerging from one entrance near dusk.
  • Pregnant or lactating females.
  • Pups, juvenile bats or calls from inside a cavity.
  • Fresh droppings beneath a roost entrance.

Colonies and breeding places: Site fidelity and recognition

Long-eared bats may return to suitable roost features, and a colony can represent a substantial part of the local breeding population. Do not assume that a roost is abandoned because bats are absent during one inspection.

Confirm activity with repeated observations where the risk is high. An emergence watch, acoustic monitoring and inspection of signs can show whether a feature is being used regularly.

  • Watch at dusk on more than one suitable occasion where practicable.
  • Record emergence time, numbers and whether bats return to the same feature.
  • Check whether nearby trees or structures provide alternative entrances or linked roosts.
  • Treat a known maternity roost as occupied until an ecologist confirms otherwise.

Colonies and breeding places: Why colonies need special care

Disturbing one breeding place can affect many females and dependent young at once. Sealing an entrance, felling a roost tree or demolishing a roof can kill or displace bats and may remove a major local refuge.

In Queensland, use the high risk species management program pathway for tampering with a breeding place of a least concern colonial breeder. Project teams should confirm the current legal requirements with the relevant Queensland authority before work begins.

  • Avoid disturbance during the maternity season.
  • Retain the breeding feature where practicable.
  • Use staged works and soft felling where removal cannot be avoided.
  • Provide a documented contingency response for injured, trapped or displaced bats.

Colonies and breeding places: Survey and mitigation options

Use Anabat or similar detectors, emergence watches, harp traps or mist nets, and roost-tree inspections with an endoscope or pole camera as appropriate. Survey methods must be selected by a suitably qualified person and carried out under the required approvals.

Exclusion devices should be installed outside the maternity season and only after confirming that no dependent young remain. Bat boxes can provide supplementary shelter, but they do not replace a natural maternity roost.

  • Plan survey timing around the local breeding season.
  • Use two-stage or soft felling for unavoidable hollow-bearing tree removal.
  • Install exclusion devices only when safe and lawful.
  • Monitor replacement or supplementary roosts after installation.

Threats: Clearing and loss of roosts

The main work-site risks are loss of roosting features, removal of feeding vegetation and disturbance during breeding. Least concern status does not remove the need to manage an active breeding place or prevent avoidable harm.

Removing hollow-bearing trees, loose bark, mature woodland, roof spaces or other sheltered features can reduce available roosts. Clearing near riparian and coastal vegetation can also remove feeding areas and movement cover.

Before clearing, complete a pre-clear survey and mark potential roost trees and structures. Retain important features wherever practicable.

  • Avoid unnecessary removal of mature trees.
  • Retain trees with hollows, fissures and loose bark.
  • Keep connected vegetation around retained roost features.
  • Use staged clearing where habitat removal cannot be avoided.

Threats: Breeding-place disturbance

Felling, demolition, vibration, lighting and sealing can disturb a maternity roost or trap bats inside. The risk is highest when pregnant or lactating females and dependent young are present.

Use emergence monitoring and internal inspection to confirm the status of a feature before disturbance. Apply the Queensland high risk SMP requirements where they are triggered.

  • Do not seal a suspected roost without an approved exclusion plan.
  • Do not fell a maternity tree during the breeding season.
  • Stop work if pups, breeding females or a larger colony are found.
  • Keep plant and workers away from the roost until the response is agreed.

Threats: Changes to feeding habitat

Clearing of thick forest, riparian vegetation and coastal habitat can reduce insect prey and sheltered foraging routes. Land degradation, weeds, altered drainage and sediment can further reduce habitat quality.

Retain vegetation corridors and minimise night lighting near likely flight paths. Protect waterways, temporary waterholes and forest edges from avoidable construction impacts.

  • Limit clearing width and retain understorey where safe.
  • Use directional, low-spill lighting near habitat.
  • Control weeds and prevent sediment movement.
  • Maintain natural drainage and wetland function where practicable.

Threats: Fire and cumulative pressures

Intense or frequent fire can remove loose bark, tree hollows and dense understorey. Broader pressures for northern Australian microbats also include mining damage to caves and crevices, feral animals, land clearing and climate-related habitat change.

Include roost features and connected vegetation in fire and rehabilitation planning. Record bat habitat retained or lost so future works can account for cumulative impacts.

  • Avoid hot or extensive fires around known roost trees.
  • Protect caves, mines, crevices and bridge or culvert roosts from damage.
  • Rehabilitate cleared areas with locally appropriate native vegetation.
  • Review bat risks when project footprints or construction methods change.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Survey the Arnhem Long-eared Bat as a small insectivorous microbat that may be missed by visual searches. Use several methods together, because an Anabat or similar recording cannot confirm this species on its own.

Review vegetation clearing plans, aerial imagery, previous fauna records and proposed night lighting before entering the site.

Map mature trees, hollow-bearing trees, loose bark, tree fissures, caves, mines, culverts, bridges, buildings and roof spaces. Include retained vegetation and nearby connected habitat.

Treat structures with suitable shelter as potential roosts, even where no bats have been recorded previously. The Arnhem Long-eared Bat is poorly known in relation to its breeding places and colony size. Do not assume that an apparently solitary bark roost is unrelated to a breeding colony.

  • Identify likely access routes, exclusion zones, crane or machinery footprints and areas where staged clearing is possible.
  • Check whether the site is in Queensland, the Northern Territory or Western Australia, and identify the relevant wildlife approval pathway before survey work starts.

Survey methodology: 2. Acoustic and activity surveys

Use Anabat or a similar full spectrum detector around likely roosts, tree lines, riparian areas, dense forest and proposed clearing edges. The species has a low intensity, low duty cycle call with a characteristic frequency around 47.1 kHz, but call frequency and pulse shape vary.

Do not report a recording as a confirmed Arnhem Long-eared Bat identification from acoustics alone. Similar calls include other Nyctophilus species and several other microbats. Have difficult records checked by an experienced bat ecologist where the result affects management.

Survey from dusk through the period of greatest activity, on suitable nights with low wind and no rain. Repeat surveys where weather, background noise, dense vegetation or poor detector placement could have reduced detection.

  • Place detectors at likely flyways, beside roost trees and near habitat edges, while avoiding damage to vegetation.
  • Record detector model, settings, location, start and finish time, weather, habitat, files retained and the method used for any call identification.
  • Use acoustic results to locate activity and possible flyways, not to clear a roost without a direct inspection.

Survey methodology: 3. Roost and breeding place checks

Carry out emergence watches at suspected roosts from before sunset until bats have left or activity has ceased. Watch tree hollows, loose bark, fissures, culverts, bridges, buildings and roof spaces.

Inspect accessible hollows and roof spaces with an endoscope or pole camera. Do not enter caves, mines, confined spaces or unstable structures without the required qualifications, controls and approvals.

Use harp traps or mist nets only under an approved method, with trained and authorised personnel. Release animals promptly at the capture site unless an authorised wildlife professional directs otherwise.

  • Look for bats, pups, pregnant or lactating females, fresh guano, staining, feeding remains, rub marks, noise, repeated emergence and return flights.
  • Record the number and age or sex class of animals where this can be done safely. Record whether the site is being used for roosting, feeding, movement or breeding.
  • Treat a roost where young are raised as a breeding place. A maternity roost may contain one or more adults and pups, and the size of a local colony cannot be inferred from one emergence count.

Survey methodology: 4. Survey records and interpretation

Keep a site map that links each observation, detector location, roost feature and proposed disturbance area. Photograph features where this can be done without touching or exposing bats.

Record the date, time, weather, survey conditions, effort, equipment, personnel, permits, animal handling, identification confidence and management decision.

The species has no established migration timing for site planning. Microbats generally breed in the warmer months, usually spring to late summer, so give additional scrutiny to potential breeding places during that period.

  • Separate confirmed observations from probable records and from calls identified only to a broader group.
  • Retain acoustic files, photographs, field sheets, GPS data, trap records and emergence counts with the project fauna records.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Plan clearing around the protection of roosts and breeding places, not only around records of individual bats. Avoid disturbance wherever practicable, particularly during the warmer breeding period when young may be unable to leave a roost.

Check whether the proposed action could affect a matter protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Make an EPBC referral where the legal assessment indicates that referral is required, and obtain approval before taking an action that needs it.

In Queensland, obtain the required authority before tampering with a breeding place. The Arnhem Long-eared Bat is a least concern colonial breeder, so tampering with its breeding place requires the high risk species management program under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020, rather than the low risk program used for other least concern animals.

Confirm state or territory permits for fauna survey, capture, handling, relocation, tree removal, cave or mine entry and use of exclusion devices. Check project conditions in the Northern Territory and Western Australia as well as Queensland.

  • Nominate the approval holder, fauna spotter catcher and decision maker for stop work actions.
  • Keep approvals, permit conditions, method statements and emergency contacts at the work front.
  • Do not rely on the species being listed as least concern to justify destruction of an active breeding place.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and site design

Retain hollow-bearing trees, trees with loose bark and fissures, riparian vegetation, connected forest and suitable bridges, culverts and buildings wherever possible. Avoid removing a known or suspected maternity roost.

Keep machinery, stockpiles, lighting, haul roads and vibration sources away from identified roosts and flight paths. Set a project-specific buffer with the fauna ecologist and approval conditions. Do not apply an arbitrary buffer where the roost feature, colony or flight path extends beyond it.

Design lighting to point away from roost entrances and retained vegetation. Use the lowest practical intensity, shield fittings and avoid lighting the emergence route.

  • Fence and sign exclusion areas before machinery arrives.
  • Include roost trees and potential breeding structures in the clearing limits shown to operators.
  • Retain alternative shelter and foraging habitat close to the retained roost, where safe and appropriate.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance and breeding place decision

Complete a pre-clearance inspection shortly before works. Recheck hollows, bark flaps, fissures, roof spaces, culverts, bridges, caves and mines that could be used by bats.

Confirm active breeding use by finding pregnant or lactating females, pups, repeated emergence of adults, dependent young, or other direct evidence of young being raised. Acoustic activity alone does not confirm a breeding place.

If a colony, maternity roost or active breeding place is found, stop the affected work area and obtain advice from the project ecologist and the relevant regulator before proceeding.

  • Schedule the most disruptive work outside spring to late summer where practicable.
  • Do not seal, fell, burn, illuminate, vibrate or otherwise disturb a suspected maternity roost while young may be present.
  • Use exclusion devices only outside the maternity season and only under an approved method that prevents animals being trapped inside.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Crew induction and preparation

Brief all workers about the species, likely roost features, the stop work process and the prohibition on unauthorised handling. Explain that a small roost can be part of a wider breeding system.

Mark the approved clearing sequence, exclusion areas, access routes and release or holding arrangements before work starts.

Provide a container, soft cloth, gloves suitable for safe handling under the approved method, head torch and contact details for the fauna spotter catcher. Equipment must not be used by untrained workers.

  • Instruct workers to report any bat, pup, guano, repeated bat activity, unusual noise or roost feature immediately.
  • Keep dogs, vehicles, generators and unnecessary people away from any occupied roost.
  • Confirm the local wildlife rescue or veterinarian pathway before disturbance begins.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in a controlled sequence and keep a qualified fauna spotter catcher at the work front. The spotter catcher must have authority to stop work whenever an animal, roost or breeding place is found.

Clear low vegetation first, then work through the site in stages toward retained habitat or another safe escape area. Avoid trapping bats between cleared ground, structures and machinery.

Use two-stage or soft felling for hollow-bearing trees where approved and safe. This may include removing non-hollow limbs first, lowering sections slowly and allowing time for animals to leave before the final section is handled.

Do not fell a tree containing a suspected maternity roost unless the approved management program specifically allows it and the relevant fauna professional is present.

  • Check each tree, bark flap, fissure, culvert, bridge and building immediately before disturbance.
  • Pause between stages to allow hidden animals to move away.
  • Keep the spotter catcher in a position where the operator can see and obey the stop signal.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Finding a roost, colony or animal

Stop work within the affected area if a bat, pup, active roost, colony, repeated emergence or suspected breeding place is found. Isolate the hazard and keep people, machinery, noise and lighting away.

Do not block an entrance, smoke a roost, spray an animal, pull apart bark or force bats from a hollow. Do not seal a roost until an approved exclusion method has been completed outside the maternity season.

A colony may be larger than the number visible at one inspection. There is no reliable species-specific colony size to use as a threshold, so manage every active breeding place as significant.

  • Record the exact location and feature, then photograph it from a safe distance.
  • Contact the fauna ecologist, approval holder and relevant regulator where required by the permit or management program.
  • Resume work only after the fauna professional confirms that the area is safe and the approval conditions are met.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handling and release

Only an authorised and trained fauna handler may catch, examine, transport or release a bat. Workers must not pick up a bat with bare hands or attempt to relocate it themselves.

Use a clean, secure, ventilated container and keep the animal quiet, shaded and away from heat, fumes, children and machinery. Minimise handling time.

Release a healthy animal at the capture site, or as close as authorised, at an appropriate time and in suitable shelter. Do not release a dependent pup away from its mother.

  • Treat every bat as capable of biting and carrying pathogens. Use the approved personal protective equipment and hygiene procedure.
  • Seek immediate advice from a wildlife veterinarian or rescue organisation for a grounded, injured, cold, bleeding or non-responsive bat.
  • Follow workplace exposure procedures for any bite, scratch or contact with saliva or blood.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Records and incident control

Record every stop work event, animal, roost and handling action on the same day. Link the record to the clearing map and work package.

Document species identification confidence, number of animals, age or sex where known, condition, location, action taken, release details, photographs, permits and people involved.

Report a breach of an approval, injury, death, unauthorised handling or disturbance of an active breeding place through the project incident system and to the relevant authority when required.

  • Keep a daily fauna log signed by the spotter catcher and site supervisor.
  • Update the clearing map after each stage and mark areas that remain under exclusion.
  • Do not conceal or discard evidence of an incident.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Immediate post-clearance checks

Post-clearance checks confirm that animals were not trapped and that retained roosts remain usable. Use the results to adjust the next clearing stage and to improve the project method.

Inspect felled trees, cut branches, bark sections, building voids, culverts and ground piles for bats or pups before material is moved or chipped.

Check retained roost trees and nearby structures for damage, blocked entrances, excessive lighting, vibration or changed drainage.

Carry out a dusk check where a potential roost was disturbed or where the approved method requires confirmation that animals have exited safely.

  • Keep exclusion fencing in place until the ecologist signs off the area.
  • Search shaded, sheltered edges and debris carefully, without turning over unstable material by hand.
  • Escalate any bat found after clearing through the injured or displaced animal pathway.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Reporting and compliance

Prepare a completion record for each clearing stage. Include survey effort, clearance dates, weather, roost findings, animals handled, injuries, deaths, release locations, photographs and departures from the approved method.

Submit reports to the approval holder, regulator, land manager and project file as required by the permit, SMP, approval or contract.

Update the fauna risk assessment when a new roost, colony or breeding place is found. Revise the next work stage before machinery recommences.

  • Retain acoustic files and emergence records with the compliance evidence.
  • Record all complaints, worker observations and near misses involving bats.
  • Check that permit conditions for notifications, reporting timeframes and monitoring have been met.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Relocated and released animals

Check released animals only through the approved monitoring method. Do not repeatedly capture or disturb them to obtain a better record.

Where an animal has been temporarily held, confirm its condition, release time, release location and handler. Follow the direction of the wildlife veterinarian or permit holder for any animal requiring rehabilitation.

Treat a pup or lactating female as a potential indicator that a breeding place has been affected. Reinspect the feature and seek specialist advice.

  • Record whether the animal returned to a roost, moved into retained habitat or required ongoing care.
  • Do not install an exclusion device until the ecologist has confirmed that dependent young will not be separated from adults.
  • Review whether relocation was necessary and whether future works can avoid it.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Monitoring and incident review

Review incidents with the project manager, spotter catcher, ecologist and crew supervisor. Identify whether the cause was poor mapping, inadequate inspection, rushed clearing, lighting, noise or unclear authority.

Monitor retained roosts and replacement structures where required by the approval or management plan. Use emergence watches, acoustic detectors or direct inspections suited to the site.

Compare monitoring results with the pre-clearance baseline and record actions that improve habitat retention and future clearing.

  • Set review dates before demobilising the fauna team.
  • Keep monitoring effort consistent enough to identify meaningful changes, without repeatedly disturbing occupied roosts.
  • Close an incident only after corrective actions are completed and documented.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore roosting and foraging habitat

Rehabilitation should restore connected shelter and insect-rich foraging habitat, not just replace cleared trees. Replacement structures can help, but they are supplementary and should not be used to justify removal of an active maternity roost.

Retain and regenerate native vegetation around waterways, forest edges and other areas used for feeding and movement. The Arnhem Long-eared Bat is a cluttered-space gleaner that hunts close to leaves and vegetation.

Retain mature trees and allow replacement trees to develop hollows, fissures and loose bark over time. Protect retained trees from fire damage, soil compaction, root disturbance and unnecessary pruning.

Use local native plant communities suited to the site. Restore understorey structure and canopy links rather than creating isolated plantings.

  • Control weeds without spraying occupied roosts, feeding areas or water edges.
  • Reduce intense and frequent fire where the approved ecological fire regime allows.
  • Keep rehabilitation areas free of rubbish, stored materials and night works.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Replacement roost structures

Use bat boxes, roost boxes or other artificial roost structures only where they suit the local habitat and the project ecologist has selected an appropriate design and location. They are a supplementary measure, not proof that a destroyed maternity roost has been replaced.

Place structures on retained trees or other stable structures with suitable shelter, shade and access. Avoid locations exposed to excessive heat, flood, predators, artificial light or constant disturbance.

Inspect structures safely and monitor use through emergence observations, acoustic activity or remote inspection. Do not open an occupied box during the breeding period.

  • Install replacement structures before disturbance where the approved plan requires early availability.
  • Use several suitable locations rather than assuming one box will serve the whole local population.
  • Record box design, installation date, height, orientation, mounting structure, maintenance and observations.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Water, insects and lighting

Protect permanent and temporary water sources, riparian vegetation and drainage lines that support insect prey. Prevent sediment, chemical spills and polluted runoff from entering water used by wildlife.

Maintain a mix of dense vegetation and open flight routes. Avoid broad removal of understorey around retained roost trees.

Keep rehabilitation areas dark at night where possible. Shield lights away from roost entrances, tree canopies, waterways and vegetation edges.

  • Use low spill, low intensity lighting only where safety requires it.
  • Schedule weed control, mowing and maintenance outside periods of known bat activity where practicable.
  • Inspect drainage and erosion controls after rain and repair failures promptly.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring

Monitor retained habitat and replacement structures for establishment, weed invasion, fire damage, storm damage and use by bats. Set the duration and frequency through the approval or rehabilitation plan rather than using a generic target.

Use the same locations and methods where possible, including emergence watches, acoustic detectors and safe visual inspections. Remember that acoustic records cannot confirm the Arnhem Long-eared Bat to species level on their own.

Report results with photographs, maps, weather, effort, structures inspected and management actions. Continue maintenance until the rehabilitation objectives are met.

  • Replace damaged boxes and remove unsafe structures.
  • Adapt planting, lighting, weed control and water management when monitoring shows poor habitat function.
  • Keep records with the project environmental management system and pass them to the land manager at handover.

Sources